Determining the Most Light Polluted Area in Selected Areas of Mandaluyong City Using a Low Cost Night Time Photon Meter

Abstract

Busy cities are the main contributors to light pollution in our world today, bringing unnoticed health hazards to people like distorted sleeping patterns, however not only people are affected but also the local wildlife and the environment. In the Philippines, Metro Manila is the busiest thus it is the subject of the research conducted by Xyrene Angeles, a BS Astronomy Technology student, in which her study revealed that Mandaluyong City is the most light-polluted area in Metro Manila. With this alarming result, the researchers developed a night-time photon meter, a low-cost light pollution meter, then identified the most light-polluted area in Mandaluyong City. The researchers established criteria such as (i) the number of billboards in the area, (ii) establishments and buildings, and (iii) volume of traffic from commuting vehicles. Through the use of the Bortle Scale at the limitations of data gathering, the researchers were able to measure the night sky’s brightness, as it quantifies astronomical observability of celestial objects and the interference caused by light pollution. Based on the gathered data, it revealed that Ortigas Avenue along Mandaluyongis the most light-polluted area in the city with a value of 25 lux. This shows that there is an extreme usage of light in the area and has less chance of seeing high magnitude astronomical objects.